Long Beach Residents Urging State To Reopen Sandy-Damaged Medical Center
LONG BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Residents are urging the state the reopen a hospital in Long Beach that was damaged by Superstorm Sandy.
Long Beach Medical Center has been repaired and is ready for business, but state health officials are refusing to allow it to reopen until it comes up with a better financial plan or merges with another medical center, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported.
Long Beach Residents Urging State To Reopen Sandy-Damaged Medical Center
Many residents are concerned and say the next closest hospital is just too far away.
"Everybody and anybody would have to rush to South Nassau which could be crucial to somebody's life," said resident Andy Gee. "By the time you get there, somebody could be dead."
Gee is among more than 10,000 residents who have signed a petition demanding the immediate reopening of the hospital.
"I want a hospital," Gee said "It doesn't make sense not to and I don't know why New York State is doing this to us."
Efforts are under way to reach a solution.
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